Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-07-13
BLOODY s%LUGGERs.
Two-Ounce Gloves Draw Much Claret
from Two Heavy-Weights-
Incidents.

1nClQGntS.
There is something in contests OF n
durance, whether between men or ami
mails, SO fascinating to the average man
with good red blood in his veins that he
will quietly leave a warm wife abed at =
o'clock in the morning, risk a large per-
centage of his income in making bets. and
endure other equally trying hardships to
witness one. The same early-risers are
upholders of the law, and would be the
first to stop a runaway team, volunteer to
quell an Indian outbreak. or shoulder a
musket if their country's honor was en-
dangered. But they would also be the
first TO leave the desk or work bench to
look at a dog fight or a rough-and-tumble
scrap, or be on-lookers at a contest, in
which the principals are eager to bust the
heads of each other for local fame and a
little silver, or to crafty personal hatred.
From the day that Bill Mcclellan and
Con Morris had the go-as-they pleased
scrap at the corner of First-avenue South
and Second street there has been more or
less pugilistic oratory as TO which wasthe
better man. The Morris partisans claim
ing that Con was the younger, could stand
more punishment, had better wind, and
could
DOWN THE OLD MAN.
in a fight to a finish; while McGeehan's
friends swore that Bill was the more
scienced, the hardest hitter, and could
knock out the "big dufer' in the first
round. Finally. articles were agreed to
and a forfeit deposited. The principals
began training and the fight was announc-
ed for the morning of the 9th. Several
good citizens at once took steps to prevent
the meeting; even threatening the arrest
of all prominent citizens who took
any part in aiding or abetting the fight.
The morning of the 9th came and went,
and the match was said to be off. Morris
continued at work plastering; while Nc
Geehan spent the time in
STUDYING THE CURRENTS
of the mighty Missouri, so as to have the
best of it in his boat race with Dan Nc
Kav. Thus were the fears of the z. c's
allayed; ana they continued the study of
the law, the barter and sale of real estate,
and the building of houses of worship.
But the p. c's were goingt to have their fun
all the anne Sunday a quiet tip was Civ
| en- to the boys, and by the time the last
| religious service was concluded every
| man, woman and child in Great Falls
knew that the delayed fight was to come
| off, for sure, early Monday morning. So
| much for a quiet tip. Que A. t. was that
Giant Spring park was to be the scene of
| Morris defeat: another, that Mcclellan
| was to be downed at the slaughter-house
| on the Johnstown side of the river. But
| the insiders were
BETTER POSTED,
and at 2 o'clock this morning boats, with
muf1ed oars. began to shove off silently
from the docks of Capt. Taylor and Dun
lap g. Mitchell. headed up stream; while
the rattling rumble of hesvily-laden
wagons aroused the quiet people Of First
avenue South from u%ntroubled sleep. and
broke up several all-night fve-cent stud
games then, going on in the saloons
located on that thoroughfare. The
wagons headed for Dexter's ferry. where
they crossed the river, took the road tina,
leads through deserted Johnstewn and
pulled up at the Sun river ferry landing
Here q halt had to be made, as the ferry.
man had not anticipated SO large a volume
of business so early in the morning and
was aseep. Finally the raging Sun was
crossed, and a small crowd who had ar
rived by boats could be seen down neal
the river bank by the railroad grade. A
that hour-3 o'clock-probably thirty p
c's and two of the girls were on the
ground. The crowd gradually grew un
til, at S o'clock, about 100 people were
present.
The ring was pitched and the prin
cipals on the ground, McGeehar
being the first to SHE his hat inside the
charmed square circle. Mcclellan strip
ped to the buff, wearing white trunks ane
drawers. His colors were crimson red
Morris fought the fight in white drawers
and undershirt, and dark green colors
The rules police Gazette) governing th'
fight and articles of agreement were ther
read, time-keepers appointed. a refere'
chosen. and the seconds tossed up TO
choice of corners. McGeehan's secont
won the toss and selected the southeas
corner. Time was called, and both me-
toed the scratch, shook hands and TIL
fight commenced at SOC O'Clock.
Round One.-Attera little cautious spar
ring by both parties, Mcclellan got in
Highlander on Morris left cheek, dsaw
: ing first blood, and in return got two o
three body Bows. They fought all aroun'
the ring and did good work.